Australia Post has backflipped on its decision to axe overnight postal services into Northern Tasmania.
Bass Labor MHR Geoff Lyons and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy have announced that Australia Post's next business day guarantee for all inbound and outbound items into Northern Tasmania will remain.
"I am pleased to confirm that Tasmanians living in Launceston and Northern Tasmania (post code range 7248 and 7325) will continue to have access to the next business day delivery guarantee for both inbound and outbound Express Post services," Mr Lyons said.
In early February, Australia Post announced that it would axe its overnight express service to most of Tasmania from April 8, with the exception of the greater Hobart area.
The move drew widespread criticism from northern business and political leaders, and prompted an online petition calling for the service to be reinstated.
Following negotiations between Senator Conroy and Mr Lyons, Australia Post announced on February 22 that it would reinstate its outbound next-day postal guarantee, but not its inbound service.
Senator Conroy said yesterday that both he and Mr Lyons had been working closely with Australia Post to ensure the full service was finally reinstated.
"I am pleased that Australia Post has listened to the people of Northern Tasmania, taken their concerns seriously, and put in place a workable solution," Senator Conroy said.
“We have redesigned our on-the-ground operating network within Launceston and Northern Tasmania which, combined with a new air freight schedule, allows us to maintain the Express Post Next Business Day Guarantee,” Australia Post Managing Director and chief executive Ahmed Fahour said.
“We will continue to monitor and adjust our national Express Post network factoring in the air freight schedule and our changed network capability, to ensure it meets changes in demand and the expectations of our customers.”